A cruise boat operated by the Madhya Pradesh tourism department capsized on Thursday evening during a sudden storm in the reservoir of Jabalpur's Bargi Dam on the Narmada River, resulting in four deaths and 17 missing persons. Twenty-two people were rescued from the water.
Incident Details
Officials reported that the vessel was carrying approximately 43 people, including the captain and two other crew members, when it encountered a sudden storm following an abrupt change in weather around 6 pm. Meteorological data indicated that wind speeds surged to 60-70 kmph, creating turbulent conditions in the dam's reservoir. The high-velocity winds are believed to have destabilized the vessel, leading to the accident.
Rescue Operations
Rescue operations continued late into Thursday night. Captain Madan Patel was among those rescued, aided by a life jacket. Another passenger was saved later. The other two crew members remain among the missing. The local administration and disaster response units, led by Jabalpur collector Raghavendra Singh, were present at the spot.
Allegations of Safety Lapses
Some survivors alleged that life jackets were distributed only after the vessel started sinking, leaving many with no time to wear them amid panic. Julius, a survivor traveling with his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren, lost his wife, while his daughter and four-year-old grandson remain missing. His son-in-law and granddaughter survived. Julius stated, “There were no visible safety measures during the journey. Panic broke out when the cruise began to sink, and only then were life jackets handed out.”
A 14-year-old boy, Jafar Ali, jumped into the river as the cruise began to sink and managed to swim ashore despite strong currents.
Government Response
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced an inquiry into the incident and compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of the deceased. He said in a post on X, “In this hour of crisis, the state stands with the affected families with full sensitivity and is ensuring all possible assistance.” Public works minister Rakesh Singh, tourism minister Dharmendra Singh Lodhi, and senior officials were directed to oversee the rescue efforts. PWD minister Singh, who reached the spot, described the accident as “most unfortunate” and confirmed the compensation.
Background
The cruise service has been operating at Bargi Dam for over 15 years. Located about 40 km from Jabalpur city, Bargi Dam is a popular tourist destination known for boating and cruise activities. The dam, one of the earliest major projects on the Narmada, was constructed between 1974 and 1990. Spread across parts of Jabalpur, Mandla, and Seoni districts, the dam stands about 69 meters high and stretches over 5.4 km, with its reservoir spanning 75 km in length. It is designed primarily for irrigation and hydropower generation, currently producing around 90 MW of electricity and supporting irrigation across thousands of square kilometers.
